246 Some Accoufit of the late M, Guinand, 



in detail, M. Jaquet Droz, who had noticed the dexterity of the 

 young man, kindly gave him permission, and with equal good na^ 

 ture relieved him from his apprehension of being unable to put 

 it together again, by taking that task upon himself if it should 

 prove too difficult for him. Thus encouraged, M. Guinand took 

 the instrument to pieces, accurately measured the curves of 

 the reflectors and glasses, and afterwards readily put it together ; 

 then availing himself of the few notions of metallurgy which he 

 had gained from his friend the buckle-maker, as well as of the 

 experience he had acquired in casting ornaments for clock-cases, 

 he attempted the construction of a similar telescope, and his 

 second experiment succeeded so well, that on a comparative trial 

 of his own instrument with that which had been its model, in 

 presence of a great number of persons, it was^impossible to detet- 

 mine to which of them the preference was due. 



M. Jaquet Droz, surprised at this success, asked our artist what 

 treatise on optics he had followed as his guide ; but he was still 

 more surprised when the young man told him that he was not ac- 

 quainted with any ; he placed one in his hands, and it was not 

 until this period that M. Guinand Studied, or rather deciphered 

 (for, as we have already observed, he reads with difficulty), the 

 principles of that science. 



About the same time occurred another fortunate circumstance* 

 in itself as trivial as the former. Having been always weak- 

 sighted, he found, when he began to make watch-cases, that the 

 spectacles, which had hitherto answered his purpose, were no 

 longer of service ; and being directed to a person whose glasses^ 

 were said to have given great satisfaction, lie obtained a pair 

 which really suited him no better than the others, but by looking 

 on while they were in progress, he learned the art of forming and 

 polishing the lenses. He therefore undertook to make spectaclesi 

 not only for himself but for various other persons, who pronounc» 

 ed them excellent. This new acquirement he found very useful 

 in his favourite pursuit ; and he amused himself in manufacturing 

 great numbers of telescopes of an inferior quality, for which he 

 made the tube« himself, generally of pasteboard. He also studied- 



